My life outside of school had a great influence on my academic career. In my family, attending college was talked about the same way as attending high school. It was the normal progression in my house. My parents were not wealthy and had three children attending college at the same time, but money was never mentioned. Not attending college never even entered my mind. I had full support – financially and emotionally. Education was always highly valued in my house. My father grew up in Ireland and stopped school when he was 14 to help on the farm. Although he didn’t have a formal education, he was one of the smartest people I’ve known. He was always reading a book and could answer any historical or geographical question on Jeopardy! He, more than anyone I know, saw the value and privilege of a good education. Learning in my house was incorporated into day-to-day experiences like baking in the kitchen, gardening, understanding the history of places we traveled to, and looking at the moon. We were taught to appreciate the world around us and expected to have an understanding of our past. This learning was relevant to my life and was fun. My plans from a young age were to go to college and become a teacher. As a child, I loved to play school and especially loved to play the role of the teacher. I have always enjoyed young children and one of my earliest memories is teaching my 3 year old neighbor how to count. I remember how much I loved teaching her and how happy she was to learn.
As an adult, I have my father’s passion and appreciation of learning. I also still have my childhood love of teaching. I fully enjoy reading ‘tweets’ on the latest educational studies; reading books about teaching techniques; and watching video’s on Ted-Ed. I am very excited to fulfill my initial goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. I hope to learn and incorporate methods in the classroom that will make learning relevant and exciting for my future students.
Education was always highly valued in my house. My father grew up in Ireland and stopped school when he was 14 to help on the farm. Although he didn’t have a formal education, he was one of the smartest people I’ve known. He was always reading a book and could answer any historical or geographical question on Jeopardy! He, more than anyone I know, saw the value and privilege of a good education.
Learning in my house was incorporated into day-to-day experiences like baking in the kitchen, gardening, understanding the history of places we traveled to, and looking at the moon. We were taught to appreciate the world around us and expected to have an understanding of our past. This learning was relevant to my life and was fun.
My plans from a young age were to go to college and become a teacher. As a child, I loved to play school and especially loved to play the role of the teacher. I have always enjoyed young children and one of my earliest memories is teaching my 3 year old neighbor how to count. I remember how much I loved teaching her and how happy she was to learn.
As an adult, I have my father’s passion and appreciation of learning. I also still have my childhood love of teaching. I fully enjoy reading ‘tweets’ on the latest educational studies; reading books about teaching techniques; and watching video’s on Ted-Ed. I am very excited to fulfill my initial goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. I hope to learn and incorporate methods in the classroom that will make learning relevant and exciting for my future students.